The highly anticipated launch of Nvidia's RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards on January 30th has ignited a frenzy among PC enthusiasts. Our RTX 5090 review hailed it as the fastest consumer graphics card available, fueling intense anticipation. Despite the hefty price tags—$2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080—demand is sky-high. However, reports suggest extremely limited stock, with one UK retailer claiming to have only single-digit quantities of the RTX 5090.

This scarcity has led to an unusual sight: campers have set up tents outside a Micro Center store in Tustin, California, days before the launch. Images circulating on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord server show multiple tents occupied by individuals awaiting the release. While some speculate these are scalpers, at least one camper on Reddit clarified they are purchasing for personal use, citing a desire to avoid inflated prices and having the time due to their business. Reports indicate a growing number of campers, with up to 10 tents and approximately 24 people present.

Micro Center, in a YouTube video, discouraged this camping, advising against braving the cold January weather. Their launch strategy involves a voucher system, allocating cards on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers will not be able to choose a specific model, with a one-card-per-customer limit. Despite discouraging camping, Micro Center still recommends arriving early to secure a purchase.

This isn't the first time Micro Center has seen such scenes; YouTuber Austin Evans documented similar camping during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020 at the same Tustin location.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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